In the highland of Western wet zone of the mid country, the Ganga Ihala Korale Divisional Secretariat is located in a panoramic mountain range with natural beauty, claiming a proud historical heritage value. Ganga Ihala Korale Pradeshiya Sabha is being the Local Authority of this Division.
Location : 6º .64' N
Location : 80.05º - 81º E
Uda Palatha Divisional Secretariat is the Northern boundary
Pasbage Divisional Secretariat is in the Eastern boundary
Yatiyantota Divisional Secretariat in the Kegalle District is in the Southern boundary
Aranayake Divisional Secretariat in the Kegalle District is in the Western boundary
Ganga Ihala Korale Divisional Secretariat Division is 103.56 square km in extent, represent 9840 ha it means sharing 4.84 percent of the total extent of Kandy District with 180 villages. It is divided in to 31 Grama Niladhari Divisions, with a population of 67568 people consisting 1750 families and 16209 houses. It is a moderately populated division among 20 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in Kandy District.
According to the geological survey, the Ganga Ihala Korale Divisional Secretariat Division is a hilly area located 500 – 1500 feet above mean sea level. Being the Mahaweli Ganga is in its Eastern boundary. Dolosbage mountain range is in the Southern highland boundary, Rakshawa mountain range is in the Eastern boundary, Ambuluwava mountain range is in the North Western boundary, Ulapane mountain range is in the North Eastern boundary, Wetakedeniya and Karagala mountain range is in the South Western boundary and South and West areas with slopes and other areas were like plains.
Ganga Ihala Korale Pradeshiya Sabha authority areas are known for claiming a supreme cultural heritage, nourished by the Gampola Kingdom, by the grace of Dalada Tooth relic, the throne of historical Kanda Udarata Kingdom.
After the fall of Kurunegala (Yapahuwa) Kingdom, the history says among Gampola, Peradeniya, Dedigama and Kotte regional kingdoms, Gampola became the governing center of the Gampola Kingdom from 1341 – 1415 AD. The first king ruled Gampola Kingdom was Buvanekabahu – IV and the history record says that he ruled from the year 1347 – 1352 AD.
After the invasion of Arya Emperor, Gampola Kingdom became the important place. It was lasting more than a half century under the kings and 7 regional kings. King Wijayabahu who ruled from 1397 – 1409 AD the Gampola Kingdom was the last king of the Kingdom.
As the area is surrounded by forest and mountain range and the Mahaweli river helps to ease communications and transportation and taking important place in battles, Gampola Kingdom became a main center. A new trend was created in Sinhala Wansa Katha, after Western occupation took down Lanka to their administration. Owing to that it is specially noted that the races, religions and various cultural reforms were formed. However, from the early period Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people are living peacefully within the authority areas of Ganga Ihala Korale.
The watch barriers erected for the safeguard off Gampola Kingdom from 1341 to 1415 AD give evidence that a part of the Kingdom of the Gana Sri Pura was in Ganga Ihala Korale. Kalu, Vaahalkada, Boralu, Mankadala rekawal, Polala ambuluwa, Kadala galpaya, Lageralaellaa tembiligala were the watch barriers erected to guard the capital. Galpaya, a part of Ambuluwava and Tembiligala was belongs to Ganga Ihala Korale.
There are evidences that these areas were consist of settlements from pre historical period. The articles with archaeological value found in Peradeniya, Pussellawa, Gampola, Ulapane, Dolosbage and Nawalapitiya areas witness above facts.